The Ted Lindsay Award is given to the NHL’s most outstanding player, as voted by fellow NHLPA members. It was first awarded in 1970–71 as the Lester B. Pearson Award and renamed in 2009–10 to honor Ted Lindsay, a Hall of Famer and NHLPA founder.
In 2023–24, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche won his first Ted Lindsay Award. He set career highs with 51 goals, 89 assists, and 140 points, a franchise record. MacKinnon led the NHL in even-strength points (92) and shots (405) and was second in power-play points (48). He also had a 35-game home point streak, the second-longest in league history.
List of NHL Ted Lindsay Award Winners
Nathan MacKinnon won the Ted Lindsay Award in 2023–24 with the Colorado Avalanche, his first. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers has won it four times (2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21, and 2022–23). Auston Matthews won in 2021–22, Leon Draisaitl in 2019–20, and Nikita Kucherov in 2018–19. Patrick Kane (2015–16) and Carey Price (2014–15) also received it, with Price being the only goaltender since Dominik Hasek (1996–97, 1997–98).
Sidney Crosby won three times (2006–07, 2012–13, and 2013–14), and Alexander Ovechkin won it three times consecutively from 2007–08 to 2009–10. Wayne Gretzky dominated the 1980s with five wins (1981–82 to 1986–87), while Mario Lemieux had four (1985–86, 1987–88, 1992–93, 1995–96). Marcel Dionne and Guy Lafleur each won it in back-to-back seasons, and Bobby Orr remains the only defenseman to win (1974–75). The award was not presented in 2004–05 due to the NHL lockout.
The following are all the winners of the Ted Lindsay Awards, as of June 2, 2025:
| Season | Winner | Team | Position | Win # |
| 2023–24 | Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche | C | 1 |
| 2022–23 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | C | 4 |
| 2021–22 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | C | 1 |
| 2020–21 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | C | 3 |
| 2019–20 | Leon Draisaitl | Edmonton Oilers | C | 1 |
| 2018–19 | Nikita Kucherov | Tampa Bay Lightning | RW | 1 |
| 2017–18 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | C | 2 |
| 2016–17 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | C | 1 |
| 2015–16 | Patrick Kane | Chicago Blackhawks | RW | 1 |
| 2014–15 | Carey Price | Montreal Canadiens | G | 1 |
| 2013–14 | Sidney Crosby | Pittsburgh Penguins | C | 3 |
| 2012–13 | Sidney Crosby | Pittsburgh Penguins | C | 2 |
| 2011–12 | Evgeni Malkin | Pittsburgh Penguins | C | 1 |
| 2010–11 | Daniel Sedin | Vancouver Canucks | LW | 1 |
| 2009–10 | Alexander Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | LW | 3 |
| 2008–09 | Alexander Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | LW | 2 |
| 2007–08 | Alexander Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | LW | 1 |
| 2006–07 | Sidney Crosby | Pittsburgh Penguins | C | 1 |
| 2005–06 | Jaromir Jagr | New York Rangers | RW | 3 |
| 2004–05 | Season cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout | |||
| 2003–04 | Martin St. Louis | Tampa Bay Lightning | RW | 1 |
| 2002–03 | Markus Naslund | Vancouver Canucks | LW | 1 |
| 2001–02 | Jarome Iginla | Calgary Flames | RW | 1 |
| 2000–01 | Joe Sakic | Colorado Avalanche | C | 1 |
| 1999–2000 | Jaromir Jagr | Pittsburgh Penguins | RW | 2 |
| 1998–99 | Jaromir Jagr | Pittsburgh Penguins | RW | 1 |
| 1997–98 | Dominik Hasek | Buffalo Sabres | G | 2 |
| 1996–97 | Dominik Hasek | Buffalo Sabres | G | 1 |
| 1995–96 | Mario Lemieux | Pittsburgh Penguins | C | 4 |
| 1994–95 | Eric Lindros | Philadelphia Flyers | C | 1 |
| 1993–94 | Sergei Fedorov | Detroit Red Wings | C | 1 |
| 1992–93 | Mario Lemieux | Pittsburgh Penguins | C | 3 |
| 1991–92 | Mark Messier | New York Rangers | C | 2 |
| 1990–91 | Brett Hull | St. Louis Blues | RW | 1 |
| 1989–90 | Mark Messier | Edmonton Oilers | C | 1 |
| 1988–89 | Steve Yzerman | Detroit Red Wings | C | 1 |
| 1987–88 | Mario Lemieux | Pittsburgh Penguins | C | 2 |
| 1986–87 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | C | 5 |
| 1985–86 | Mario Lemieux | Pittsburgh Penguins | C | 1 |
| 1984–85 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | C | 4 |
| 1983–84 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | C | 3 |
| 1982–83 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | C | 2 |
| 1981–82 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | C | 1 |
| 1980–81 | Mike Liut | St. Louis Blues | G | 1 |
| 1979–80 | Marcel Dionne | Los Angeles Kings | C | 2 |
| 1978–79 | Marcel Dionne | Los Angeles Kings | C | 1 |
| 1977–78 | Guy Lafleur | Montreal Canadiens | RW | 3 |
| 1976–77 | Guy Lafleur | Montreal Canadiens | RW | 2 |
| 1975–76 | Guy Lafleur | Montreal Canadiens | RW | 1 |
| 1974–75 | Bobby Orr | Boston Bruins | D | 1 |
| 1973–74 | Phil Esposito | Boston Bruins | C | 2 |
| 1972–73 | Bobby Clarke | Philadelphia Flyers | C | 1 |
| 1971–72 | Jean Ratelle | New York Rangers | C | 1 |
| 1970–71 | Phil Esposito | Boston Bruins | C | 1 |
FAQ's On List of NHL Ted Lindsay Award Winners
A. Wayne Gretzky won five Ted Lindsay Awards, which is also the most by any individual.
A. Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar were named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award.
A. Carey Price for the Montreal Canadiens in 2015 and Dominik Hasek for the Buffalo Sabres in 1997 and 1998 have won the Lindsay Award as goalies.
A. The Hart Trophy is awarded for the most valuable player, and the Ted Lindsay Award is awarded for the most outstanding player.
A. The Ted Lindsay Award is voted on by the NHL Players' Association.
